DAVAO CITY (PIA) - Under the Universal Healthcare Law, all Filipinos are now covered under PhilHealth immediate eligibility. The coverage includes PhilHealth’s Z benefit package. And all they need is to register to be a PhilHealth member.
“Kung dili pa miyembro naa ta immediate eligibility under sa Universal Healthcare Law so pwede na sila mag perehistro sa pinaka duol na PhilHealth offices, mga local offices, sa regional office. Once maka rehistro sila, eligible sila," says Dr. Gabriel Anne La Rosa, medical evaluator PhilHealth-XI during their guesting at Kapihan sa PIA held today (Jan. 20) at the NCCC Victoria Plaza.
Z Benefits covers 20 listed catastrophic illnesses and health conditions requiring expensive treatments and hospitalizations.
These 20 listed illnesses and health conditions covered in the Z benefits package include: Acute lymphocytic leukemia, Early breast cancer, prostate cancer, kidney transplant, standard risk coronary bypass graft, tetralogy of Fallot, ventricular septal defect, cervical cancer, Z MORPH (Mobility, Orthosis, Rehabilitation and Prosthesis Help), selected orthopedic implants, peritoneal dialysis, colon cancer, rectal cancer, expanded mobility orthosis rehabilitation help, premature and small newborns, children with developmental disabilities, children with mobility impairment, children with visual impairment, children with hearing impairment, rheumatic heart disease.
La Rosa said out of the 20 diseases the PhilHealth in the Davao Region can only cover 18. The Z packages can only be availed in four contracted hospitals; Davao Doctors Hospital, Southern Philippine Medical Center, Tebow Cure Center in Davao City and the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.
La Rosa said that if the total hospital charge is lesser than the coverage amount, the member would not have to pay for anything as it will be covered by the Z benefit.
If the total hospital charge is higher than the coverage amount the PhilHealth has a No Balance Billing Policy which can be availed by members belonging to category of sponsored members, indigents, senior citizen.
“Under the No Balance Billing wala silay bayaran unless they avail of extra services or they upgrade like room accommodation for example from ward the member want to have a private room,” La Rosa said.
For those not covered by the No Balance Billing or those who are employed direct contributors they can avail of co-payment scheme which must not exceed the package amount.
An example is when a member avail of a kidney transplant which has a Z benefit package amount of P600,000. The hospital cannot exact fees on the patient higher than the package amount which is P600,000.
According to La Rosa the PhilHealth-XI has paid P427-million for Z benefit since it was launched in 2012.
Johanna Blason, PhilHealth-XI PR officer said under the UHC members will not be required that they be paying members of PhilHealth before they can avail of the Z benefit package.
“Under the Universal Health Care Law, which is being implemented, PhilHealth removed the requirement of three months or nine months payment before we can avail of the benefits, we now have immediate eligibility,” Blason said. (PIA/RG Alama)
